The Last of Us Part 3, while not officially announced, seems increasingly likely to be in development over at the award-winning first-party Sony studio, Naughty Dog.
The acclaimed studio, known for its narrative-driven single-player games, recently made headlines with the cancellation of its ambitious multiplayer spin-off set in The Last of Us universe. The decision, while disappointing for the audiences looking forward to the standalone title, is a positive sign for the developer’s single-player endeavors, specifically, The Last of Us Part 3.
Naughty Dog’s cancellation of the multiplayer project, initially envisioned as an expansion to The Last of Us Part 2 and later planned as a separate release, was announced in a blog post. The studio cited the need to focus its resources on its strength, single-player games, rather than committing to a live-service model requiring years of continuous support. It’s a decision that aligns with Naughty Dog’s heritage of creating immersive single-player experiences, as seen in, of course, The Last of Us, and Uncharted, among others.
The now-canceled multiplayer mode, which the studio referred to us The Last of Us Online, had generated considerable excitement among fans. The silver lining is that this frees up resources for larger projects. When you consider the critical and commercial success of The Last of Us Part 2, a sequel appears to be a logical next step for the studio. Factions, the first game’s multiplayer component, Factions, was highly praised, and its absence in the sequel had become a point of contention among fans. While the promise of a standalone online title had temporarily addressed this concern, the recent cancellation has left a void that The Last of Us Part 3 could fill.
Further fueling speculation, Naughty Dog co-president Neil Druckmann has remained non-committal when asked for a comment about a sequel. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Druckmann acknowledged the deep love for The Last of Us but refrained from saying anything related to the franchise’s future beyond The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered. However, he did confirm the development of multiple single-player projects at Naughty Dog. This fact, combined with his past statements about the potential for more stories in The Last of Us universe, adds weight to the possibility of a third installment.
In addition to Druckmann’s comments, a reliable insider known as ViewerAnon has stated that The Last of Us Part 3 is in production at Naughty Dog. This claim aligns with Druckmann’s admission in an earlier podcast that an outline for the potential third game exists, although at that time, it was not in active development.
In the meantime, The Last of Us is extending its impact beyond gaming with the release of HBO’s live-action adaptation further solidfying its cultural significance. The success has already led to multiple award nominations with several more season already on the way. Given this triumph and the series’ strong narrative foundation, Sony would likely support a third game. Such a move would make sense from both a creative and commercial standpoint, considering the sales and acclaim garnered by the first two games.
While rumors and speculation abound, concrete details about The Last of Us Part 3 remain elusive. Naughty Dog’s focus on preserving the quality of its single-player experiences suggests that future installments would continue the studio’s tradition of storytelling excellence.
The potential for The Last of Us Part 3 offers exciting possibilities for the continuation of Ellie’s story or the exploration of new narratives within the rich universe created by Naughty Dog.
In the meantime, fans can look forward to the release of The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered on PlayStation 5 in January. This upcoming remaster, which brings new and never-before-seen content, will serve as the basis of the future seasons of the HBO series as it waits for Pedro Pascal’s schedule to clear up. The last we heard, the show has already found the actress who will play Abby.
Naughty Dog’s commitment to single-player storytelling, combined with the studio’s past successes, suggests when a third game is confirmed, it will likely be a significant event in the gaming world.
For now, fans of The Last of Us series can only wait and speculate on what the future holds for this beloved franchise.
